‘Big Brother’ Showmance Announces Their Split After Four Years

“Big Brother’s” Claire Rehfuss and Derek Xiao announced the end of their four-year relationship on September 20, 2025.

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Claire Rehfuss & Derek Xiao’s Relationship History

CBS

Rehfuss and Xiao met while competing on “Big Brother” season 23. It’s fairly common for “Big Brother” contestants to develop showmances. Recently, Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo announced they’re having twins after first meeting on “Big Brother” season 18.

Seven “Big Brother” couples have gotten married since the show first premiered in 2000, and only one of those couples have since split. This gives “Big Brother” a better marriage rate than “The Bachelor.”

Rehfuss and Xiao, however, never tied the knot. They also did not begin their relationship while inside the “Big Brother” house. Instead, Xiao showed some interested in another “Big Brother” player: Hannah Chaddha. Ultimately, Xiao and Rehfuss’ showmance blossomed in the jury house after they both had been evicted.

After competing on CBS’s “Big Brother,” Xiao and Rehfuss teamed up to compete on another CBS reality competition show. Although they both lost “Big Brother,” as a duo, Rehfuss and Xiao went on to win “The Amazing Race” season 34.

Xiao and Rehfuss started their lives together in New York City, where they both already lived. However, one year after their relationship began, they packed their bags and headed for California, according to Us Weekly. Ultimately, they settled in Los Angeles.

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Why Claire Rehfuss & Derek Xiao’s Relationship Ended

On the afternoon of September 20, 2025, Rehfuss posted an Instagram story announcing her split from Derek Xiao. “After 4 wonderful years together, Derek and I have decided to end our relationship,” she wrote. Xiao posted the same message.

Rehfuss kept the details vague but assured fans that “nothing dramatic happened.” Instead, the two decided to split due to “the realization that we’re different people who want different things.” The “Amazing Race” winner also made sure to mention that she and Xiao still care about each other despite no longer being a couple. Instead, they will remain friends.

At the end of the post, Rehfuss asked that fans refrain from speculating about her and Xiao’s relationship, as they are trying to avoid any drama. Ultimately, only Rehfuss and Xiao are experts in their relationship, and they ought to be given the chance to grieve and move forward privately, despite being public figures.